I hope you enjoyed reading my first post last week, when I had you looking back at when you started your genealogical journey. This post is looking at advice for the younger you and advice for someone just starting as well as are your family interested Again, just initials for privacy and these are their responses for the remaining questions. (Responses have not been edited, just spelling mistakes corrected.)
Are your relatives interested in your research?
B. “I do have relatives that are interested in a high-level summary of the latest things I’ve found out but there are those whose eyes politely glaze over. I am lucky to have inherited a lot of old photographs (some labelled some not) but I didn’t really have anyone to show me ‘the ropes’ which is where family history societies have been invaluable to me.”
R. “Not the research but the stories – yes!”
P. “My family are only vaguely interested.”
M. “A little.”
C. “None of my immediate family are interested, but I have a few 2nd and 3rd cousins who are interested on both sides of my family, and we share information.”
F. “Not particularly.”
P2. “Family is sort of interested but they want me to make sure I write it all down so they don’t have to remember what I tell them.”
M2. “The oldest child, no. The youngest shows a bit of interest but will have to see what develops.”
What would be the one piece of advice you would give your younger self, before starting your research?
B. “Don’t just accept hints! Use them to conduct your own research, verify and reach your own conclusions.”
R. “Ask more questions of the older generations including grandparents, great uncles and aunts.”
P. “Write down the source of every item of information that you come across!”
M. “Always record the source of every piece of information you collect even if it doesn’t appear very important at the time.”
C. “Listen to the stories of your parents as well as your grandparents and all older relatives and friends and record their stories! I listened but didn’t record. Ensure you keep your recordings.
My father recorded stories on an old cassette player, but my mother disposed of the cassettes after he died because she thought the technology was obsolete and they were of no use!”
F. “Keep a research log from the beginning which also includes source citations.”
P2. “My advice to my younger self would be to get a bit more organised at the beginning and make sure when you find a piece of evidence to document it properly and make sure you know which folder/box you put it in.”
M2. “The age old one of keep a record of where you found something, so you can go back to it. Also to date your work, so you know if you are looking at current piece of research or an old, possibly out of date research.”
What advice would you give someone just starting their research in 2026?
B. “I recommend completing a beginner’s course through a family history society – it’s invaluable when you’re starting out and will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
Then start at the bottom of the tree, building with a solid foundation by investigating all possible record-sets and sources and, generation by generation, work your way up.”
R. “Enjoy and there are many ways of doing family history. Find your own path and don’t get hung up on others telling you what to do and how to do it. The investigation is part of the journey.”
P. “Start with the basics and verify everything as you go along.”
M. “M says to see her answer to the previous question PLUS, resist the temptation to wander down rabbit holes concerning collateral ancestors unless there is a genuine need to find information not able to be found from researching your direct ancestors. With so much information available online it’s easy to sidetrack unnecessarily.”
C. “Check your sources! Have at least two or more independent primary sources as proof for your research, e.g. BDMs. Back up these with secondary sources e.g. newspapers. Cite the source in a recognisable form to help you and others find the original source. Save everything. You never know what may be useful later. Ensure you have a good filing system, so you know where to find things later. Scan all old photos with names and dates while someone can still remember. Save everything in at least two places, e.g. on your computer, in the cloud on a portable hard drive.”
F. “Keep a research log from the beginning which also includes source citations, don’t expect everything to be online and question everything – do not assume online family trees are correct.”
P2. “P also said to see her answer to the previous question PLUS, never to trust anyone else’s tree until you have checked it out for yourself.”
M2. “It isn’t all online, join a society or two, keep a record of what you find and where, date your work. AND just because they have the same name as your ancestor, doesn’t mean they are yours. Check and double check.”
Lilian: I hope you have enjoyed these two posts, reading about how others started out and the advice they would give themselves and people just starting out.
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